Rich Merritt is an author, attorney and motivational speaker residing in New York with his life-partner, Jonathan.
Merritt attended the prestigious and ultra-conservative Bob Jones University, eventually leaving to attend a more mainstream university. Joining the marines, he served eight years of active duty, attaining the title of Captain, before finally retiring.
During his last years in the military, he was among those profiled for a NY Times magazine cover article regarding gays in the military. Later he achieved notoriety through several print media profiles including another in the NY Times, and Advocate magazines. These profiles in addition to describing being gay and in the military, eventually disclosed his appearance in eight all-male porn films.
It wasnt until authoring 2005's bestseller, "Secrets of A Gay Marine Porn Star", that he told his side of his dual life as a gay porn actor and soldier, revealing other "secrets" as well, including those regarding promiscuity, suicide attempts, and drug addiction.
His website describes the book "Secrets of a Gay Marine Porn Star" as a "story of self-forgiveness and self-discovery. It is a tale of the difficult path to an integrated, centered life, where forgiveness is sincere and love and friendships are paramount."
His latest tome “Code of Conduct” will be released late this fall, and is being adapted by the author as a play.
Why we like him: With his book Secrets of a Gay Marine Porn Star, Merritt blew open the closet doors to expose the hypocrisy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue by telling about his dual life as soldier and the star of eight all male porn films.
Jason Walker's debut album, This Is My Life, launched 5 Billboard Top-10 singles and propelled him to the attention of countless fans, at the same time helped to revitalize the dance music industry. With his latest album release, “Flexible,” available through Junior Vasquez Music he is poised to continue on the upward path towards superstardom.
Walker made his musical debut as a contestant on Showtime at the Apollo, despite catcalls and boos from the audience. When he finished he ended up the winner of the night's contest. Taken under wing by noted DJ and remixer, Junior Vasquez, the artist went on to launch his above-mentioned chart-topping debut album.
With Flexible we are dealing with many matters of the heart, most particularly the end of a relationship, something that ironically enough Walker was going through at the time of the recording sessions.
The title track finds him in a duet with Billie Myers, who wrote the track. The album also features a high energy rendition of Jackie Moore's disco classic, This Time Baby.
Darren Hayes may be best known as the vocalist from the pop group Savage Garden, (Truly Madly Deeply, I Knew I Loved You, The Animal Song). Since the breakup of this chart topping pop band Darren has went on to record three pop albums, be honored as the second gay couple to be married under British law and to have sold out two impromptu performances at Joes Pub, literally within minutes.
Recently Hayes recently launched his own independent music label, Powdered Sugar Productions, and has established control over all aspects of his musical recordings. With his latest awe-inspiring 25 track double album, “This Delicate Thing We’ve Made” Hayes is bout to blaze himself a new trail of pop success.
Why We Like Him: After hearing one verse of The Animal Song I was hooked on Hayes (and Savage Garden). With his intelligent and thought provoking lyrics, many of which tell a story based on personal experiences or influences, I believed he would successfully make the transition to a solo artist.
Charles Casillo is a man of many words (yes he’s an author).
As the official biographer of gay activist and author John Rechy he has gained the respect of other authors. As the author of The Marilyn Diaries and The Fame Game, Cassillo has been lauded as the male Jacquelyn Suzanne. His novel "The Fame Game" is soon to become available in paperback.
Why We Like Him ... Single handedly he is bringing "camp" back to literature, with his witty characters and characterizations.
Kevin Spirtas may be best known as Dr Craig Wesley on the daytime sudser "Days of Our Lives."
Spirtas has also landed roles in A Chorus Line and achieved notoriety as Hugh Jackman's understudy in the Boy From Ox, a role he never was able to publicly perform as Jackman never missed a performance. Spirtas can also be seen as the monster in several slasher/horror films.
Of late, Spirtas has also achieved glowing notices for his one-man show Night and Days. In this show we are treated to amusing anecdotes about his television, movie and stage roles and how music has always played a part in his life.
From Sept 19-30th Spirtas will be starring as Vernon in the Surflight Theatre's production of "They're Playing Our Song" at the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, NY. This musical contains the hit songs They're Playing Our Song and I Still Believe in Love in a score by hitmakers Marvin Hamlisch and Carol Bayer Sager, and a book by Neil Simon.
Why We Like Him: The exuberance and joy, that Spirtas feels when performing is contagious. When he relates his anecdotes about his stage and screen roles he is informative, witty and charming ... Whats not to like?
They're Playing Our Song
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Click HERE for a Bonus "Man of Fall"